Range construction



Dec 4, 1945. 5;, ||I HQBSON TAL 2,390,438

' RANGE` CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2. 1942 3.SheeAts-She a`t 1 l .kif

Dec. 4, ,1945. s. H. HoBsN Erm. 2,390,438

' RANGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2. 1342 n 3 Sheets-sheet 2 am Mwam, fw mw i* Dec. 4, 1945. s. H. HOBSON Em 2,390,438 RANGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1942 :s sheets-sheet s 0 530 733+* Y "JZ (18 o Q J. o C

' O 73 fsf 'l 2z Patented Dec. 4, 1945 RANGE CONSTRUCTION Stanley H. Hobson and Harold H. Ring, Rockford, Ill., assignors to Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 432,976

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved construction for domestic cooking ranges.

Ranges have heretofore been insulated by lill- I ing the oven walls with rock wool put in by hand,

the least accessible places having required special methods that involved the making up of a blanket of insulation and the introduction of the completed blanket down into the space `to be iilled. In other Words, the insulation of the range involved too many added stove assembling onerations and took too much time and involved too much labor cost, besides adding to the general assembling cost because of the delays and complications necessitated thereby. Furthermore, the old` method of applying the insulation material necessarily imposed many limitations upon the design and construction of the range to permit applying the insulation by that method. It is therefore the principal object of our invention to provide a new and improved method of making hollow walled cooking ranges and lling the hollow walls with insulation, the lling consisting in blowing in the insulation after the range body is substantially completely assembled, as distinguished from applying the insulation during the assembling of the range, whereby to speed up production and reduce cost while still obtaining as good if not a better job of insulation.

A salient feature of the range construction provided in `accordance with our invention consists on the one hand in providing iiller openings at the juncture of two hollow walls so that both walls may be speedily `filled with the blower nozzle at the one location, and by the provision, on

the other hand, of bleeder holes in all of said hollow walls at the ends remote ,from the ller openings to insure complete lling of the walls and avoid the likelihood of building up back pressure which would tend to slow up if not prevent completion of the nlling operation.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of a range constructed substantially entirely of sheet metal parts spot weld- -flanges arranged to be placed inlapped relation and spot welded together, the flanges in all instances being so directed that they can be entered conveniently between the electrodes of the Welder for speedy welding and proportionately lowered cost,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description,

in which reference is made to the accompanying'` drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cooking y range made in accordance with our invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sectional views in vertical planes at right angles to one another,

Figs. 5 and 6 are a central longitudinal vertical section and a vertical cross-section through the range, these views being taken on the lines 5-5 and B--S of Fig. 1, respectively, and

Figs. 7 vand 8 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 6.

The same reference 'numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout these views.

The range indicated generally by the reference numeral I0 in Fig. 1 is of a` small and compact design intended for use in small homes and apartments, and to be available atappreciably less cost th-an the average domestic cooking range.` It should be understood that while we have illustrated the invention as embodied in a range of this description, the invention is by no means to be regarded as limited in its application to such a range, inasmuch as most of the features of the present invention are applicable to ranges generally. In the range shown, there is acooking top Il having four burners, as indicated at I2, controllable by knobs I3 projecting from the front panel I4 that closes the burner box compartment under the cooking top. A splasher back panel is indicated at I5 behind the cooking top Il. I6 is the oven door hinged, as indicated at I1, to the body I8 of the range below the iront panel I4 to afford access to the baking oven I9 `and broiler oven 20. The oven bottom 2| separatingthe broiling oven from the baking oven is disposed over the burner 22 mounted in the broiling oven. The dial 23` at the middle'of the front panel I4 controls the delivery of gas to the oven burner 22 and adjusts the oven thermostat (not shown) which in turn regulates the flow of gas to the burner 22 to maintain a predetermined temperature in the oven I9. 24 is the bottom of the broiling oven, and at 25 and 26 are indicated the usual oven rack and ance with our invention, is made upentirely ci sheet metal panels spot welded together. In other words, there is no angle iron frame work of any kind. Nearly all of the welded joints are designated in Figs. 8, as W1, W2, etc. Thus the two side walls 29 and 30 are formed by inner and outer sheet metal panels 3| and 32 welded together by anges 33 and 34 at W13 at the back of the range, these anges projecting rearwardly from the range in the manner indicated in Fig. 8. These panels are similarly welded together along the front at W12 by means of the flanges 35 and 36 which project inwardly from the opposite sides of the front of the range, as clearly appears in Fig. 8. The rear wall 31 and top wall 318 of the oven are also hollow walls. A single L-shaped panel 39 provides an inner top wall 40 and inner rear wall 4|. The front end of the inner top Wall 40 is flanged forwardly, as at 42, and there are upwardly projecting flanges 43 along the opposed longitudinal edges, where the wall 40 rests on eyebrow projections 44 struck inwardly from the inner side walls 3| and is welded at W2. The

lower end of the inner rear wall 4| has a rear` wardly projecting flange 45 to space the wall 4| from the outer rear wall 46. Eyebrow projections 41 struck upwardly from the bottom wall 24 locate the wall 4| when it is Welded at W5. Rearwardly projecting flanges 48 are provided on the opposed longitudinal edges of the inner rear Wall 4| and have abutment with and are welded at We to the inner side walls 3|. The outer rear wall 46 has rearwardly projecting flanges 49 which are spot welded at W11 to the flanges 33 and 34 previously mentioned. The offsetting of the flanges 33 laterally with respect to the inner side walls 3| provides shoulders at 50 'for abutment with the outer rear wall 46 so that the rear wall 31 is accurately located relative to the side walls 29 and 30. The overlapping relationship also assures much greater rigidity in the structure as a whole and relieves the spot' welded connections at 33--34-49 of excessive strain.

The outer top wall 5| has a forwardly projecting ange 52 formed on the front end thereof spot welded at Wa to the flange 42 on the inner top wall 40. An upwardly projecting flange 53 is provided on the Arear end of the outer top wall 5| and is spot welded at W9 to the upper end of the outer rear wall 46. Downwardly projecting flanges 54 are provided on the opposed longitudinal edges of the wall 5| and have abutment with the outer side walls 32 just above inwardly struck rib portions 55 on said walls. The omission of welds at 54-55 is important because the outer side walls are thereby left unmarred and the enamelled surfaces are smooth and there is avoided likelihood of enamel peeling olf the weld spots. The wall 5| is welded at W7 to the flanges 56 which project outwardly from the upper ends of the inner side walls 3|. The outer side walls 32 extend above the top wall 38 of the oven to form the sides of a burner box compartment under the cooking top I and there are gusset plates I51 at the rear of this compartment which are Welded at W14 along the vertical edge portion to the inwardly bent vertical flanges 53 on the side walls 32, and are welded at W15 along their horizontal lower edge portions to the upwardly bent flanges 53 on the outer top wall 5| of the oven. The cooking top |I and splasher back panel l5 are suitably secured in place on top of the inwardly bent fianges 59 provided on the upper end of the outer side walls 32.

The outer side walls 32 also extend below the bottom Wall 24 to form the side walls 'of the base 60. and rear of the range and are spot welded at W16 along their upper end portions to the downwardly bent flanges 62 on the front and rear ends of the bottom Wall 24. The rear one of these flanges 62 is spot welded to the lower end of the outer rear wall 46, as indicated at W10.

Inwardly directed flanges 64 on the lower end of the outer side walls 32 are spot welded to the vertical edge portions of the gusset plate 6|, as indicated at W17. The lower ends of the inner side Walls 3| have outwardly projecting flanges 66 which, like the flanges 56, serve to spacek the inner Walls3| from the outer walls 32, and they have contact with the outer walls 3'2 above the ribs 61 struck inwardly from the outer side Walls 32. The same advantage is gained by the elimination of welds at (i6-61, as at 55. Downwardly bent anges 68 0n the opposed longitudinal edges of the bottom wall 24 are Aspot welded, as indicated at' W4, tothe lower end portions of the inner side walls 3|'. Inthat way the lower end portion of the range is also rendered quite rigid even though there is no reinforcing angle iron frame Work. The lower ends of the outer side walls 32 have inwardly projecting flanges 1 0 to rest on the oor.

In assembling the range body I8, certain subassemblies are welded rst, as, for example, the flue 12 is welded tothe top wall 4D, as at W1, and strips 21 and 23 are welded, as at W2, to the side walls 3|. Then the-innerlshellfor the body is fabricated by welding the Wallsv 2-4, 4|, 1U-,4I together at Wa-Ws. y'I-hese welding operations are simpleY because all flanges to be welded project outwardly relative to the innery shell. The front cross-bar is next welded in place in the inner shell. Then theouter top wall 5|, the first part of the outer shell, is welded onto the upper ends of the inner side walls 3| at W7 and to the front end of the inner top wall 4l) at W2. Next, the outer rear wall 31 is welded at W9 to the top wall 5|, at W10 to the bottom wall 24, and at W11v to the innerv sidewalls 3|. Next, the outer side Walls 32- are welded at their front and rear edges to the inner'side walls 3| as at W12-W13, thus completing the outer shell for the range body. It will be evident from the drawings that the welds Wfl-W13 are also simple to effect, inasmuch as all of the flanges concerned project outwardly relative to the inner and outer shells and are,therefore, easily accessible. Gusset plates 51 and 6|4v are nally- Welded in place, as previously described, at W14-W17.

The range chassis in the skeleton form, diagrammatically indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, hav,- ing the sheet metal parts thereof welded together, as above described, is dipped in ground coat enamel and fired, after which an outer finish coat isr sprayed on the exterior and the structure again red.

together, will Abe filled, and when' the structure is thereafter fired the oven will accordinglybe sealedv against seepage of moisture and heat out of the oven space and into the spacesV between the oven walls. The likelihood of rusting is therefore reduced to a minimum, because any moisture present will have contact only with enameled surfaces. The oven furthermore can be cleaned easily, there being no crevices in which moisture, dirt, and grease can collect. Fresh a-ir is admitted to the bottom of the broileroven 20 through holes 1| provided in the bottom wa1l-24 Gusset plates 6| are provided at the front In the dipping, it should `beevident that all of the crevices left between thevarious parts, where they have been spot welded f in-tworows along the side walls 29 and 39. 'Ihis air` supports combustion at the burner 22, and the products of combustion from the burner circulate"` upwardly through the baking oven I9 around the opposite sides of the oven bottom 2| and are exhausted from the top of the oven I9 through the ilue 12 into the burner box compartmentand out through the open rear end of said compartment, the flue 12 being near said opening, as indicated in Fig. 7.

The inner side walls 3| of the oven have their front end portions struck outwardly to provide theverticalchannels 13, one side of which is defined by the flanges 35 by means of which the inner side walls are spot welded to the ilanges "36 on the outer side walls. These channels 13 are providedpartly in order to provide the flanges 3,5 and enable spot welding of the walls together in the `manner stated and partly to provide a space for the gas supply pipe 14, which is extended downwardly fromthe burner box compartment 56 in the channel 13 to the mixer 15 of the burner 22. The flanges 35 and 36 on the one side Wall 29 are struck inwardly to provide seats 16 for application of one leaf of each of the hinges |1, the other leaves being, of course, fastened to the door I6. In that way the inside of the door is arranged to lie substantially flush with the range front defined by the flanges 36. The flanges 35 and 36 on the other side wall 36 together define a flange serving as a striker plate, behind which the rollers 11 on suitable spring type detents are arranged to engage to hold the door |6 releasably in closed position. The channel 13 in the side Wall 39 therefore provides a space to accommodate these rollers 11.

i After the range chassis shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3 has been enameled, as above described, and before the door or any other parts have been assembled thereon, `the same Yis insulated by blowing in the insulation material, indicated at 18 in Figs. 5 and 6. An opening 19 is Aprovided 4in the rearportion of the outer top wall V5|` to admit the insulation discharge nozzle 86, so

that insulating material, such as rock wool or any other material suitable for the purpose and capable of being blown in in the manner stated, can be `delivered into the spaces 8| and 82 in the top andback walls of the oven from Ithe one point 19. Inblowing the insulation into the top space 8|, the'nozzle 89 will, of course, ,be inclined about as indicated in Fig. 2, or even more toward the direction of the front of the range. The holes indicated at 83 are provided in the inner and outer top walls 40 and 5| near the fro-nt of the range, and are provided primarily for extension through the `oven topwall 38 of the gas supply pipe 14 leading to the burner 22. However, in the blowing-1n of the insulation, these holes will allow the escape of air so that there will be no tendency to develop back pressure in the space 8|. Some additional holes may be provided in the outer top wall 5| in remote relation to the nozzle hole 19, if desired, for the escape of air, but are not at present considered necessary, inasmuch as the nozzle 80 in the blowing-in of insulation intothe space 8| may be directed first toward the right hand front corner of the range, and most of the space 8l can be filled before any material is allowed tocollect in the vicinity of the holes 83. In that way the holes 83 will remain open for free dlmculty Vin completely filling the space 8| and very little, if any, insulation will be blown out through the holes 83. After the pipe 14 has been entered through the holes 83. the inner hole in the wall 40 can be sealed in any suitable manner so that the insulation material will not be left exposed in the oven at that point. A row of small holes 84 is provided at the lower end of the space 82 in the back wall 31, these holes being in registering relation in the ilange 45 on the inner rear wall 39 and in .the bottom wall 24, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. These holes permit the escape of air in the blowing-in of insulation into the space 82, during which operation the nozzle 88 will of course bedirected downwardly into said space instead of as it is shown in Fig. 2. The insulation will, therefore, have a tendency to rush to the bottom of the space 82 instead of lodging at some intermediate point and causing a void in the lling operation. There are enough of these holes 84 and the holes are large enough to allow for the desired escape of air even after a certain amount of insulation has been blown in and has covered these holes, the material permitting seepage of air through it readily enough for this purpose. In that way there is no danger of back pressure being built up in the space 82 to interfere with the filling operation. In a similar manner the spaces 85 and 86 in the side walls 29 and 30 are adapted to be filled, nozzle holes being provided at 81 and 88 in the 'top wall 5| in register with holes in the flanges 56, as indicated in Fig. 6, and rows of smaller holes 89 and 9D being provided at the lower ends of the spaces 85 and 86 for the escape of air similarly as in the case of the holes 84. The holes 89 and 99 are provided in the flanges 66 on the lower ends of the inner side walls 3 I, as clearly appears in Fig. 6. Cover plates 9| are provided for the nozzle holes 19, 81, and 88 and are suitably secured in place by screws 92 so that there is no insulation material exposed in the burner box compartment.

While any suitable or preferred insulation. blowing apparatus may be employed, the type we have used and found satisfactory for the purpose is one -in which the air under pressure is delivered through one duct, as indicated at 93 in Fig. 4, and the insulation material, delivered from a beater, is conducted through a duct 94 for entrainment with the air from the duct 93 and out through the nozzle 88. The blowing-in of insulation -takes very little time as compared with the insulation of ranges by the old method, and there is more assurance of the walls being completely filled when filled in this Way, thus insuring better all around efficiency for the range.

It is believed the foregoing -description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

l. In an insulated cabinet construction, the combination of a bottom wall and hollow` top, back, and opposed side walls, the interior of the top wall having open communication at the rear thereof with the interior of the back wall at the top thereof, and the outer Wall of said structure having an opening provided therein at the juncescape of air until the space 8| is nearly filled. i Theoperator after a little experience will have no `ture of said top and back walls adapted for the relation to the nozzle opening; and theouter wall of eachof said hollow side walls havinggan open,- ing at the top end thereof adapted for thel introduction of a nozzle to discharge insulation material into said hollow side walls under air pressure and said ho-llow side walls having, one or more exhaust openings provided therein remote.

from the nozzle opening.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exhaust openings are small in relation to the nozzle openings provided for introduction yof the insulation materialunder air pressure, the

structure includingv closures for the last-men-V tioned nozzle openings.

3. A hollow walled sheetmetal cabinet structure, comprising topv and bottom walls and a rear wall, and opposed hollow sidewalls each comprising inner and outerv substantially vertical sheetmetal walls in spaced-substantially parallel relation, the frontY edge portion of at least one outer side wall beingbent inwardly substantially at right angles to dene'an attaching flange; the Vertical edge of which isin a plane substantially coincident with the plane of4 the adjacent inner side wall, the inner side wall having its front portion bent outwardly into substantially parallel offset relation to the remainder thereof and having the front edge portion bent inwardly substantially at right angles to dene an attaching ange narrower than the aforesaid flange and disposed in abutment with the rear surface of thev aforesaid flange on the outside of the said hollow walls f' said cabinet and secured thereto.

4. A hollow walled sheet metal cabinet structure comprising top andbottorn walls anda Vrear Wall, and opposed hollow side walls each comprising inner and outer substantially vertical sheet metal walls in spaced substantially parallel relation, the front edge portion of at least one outer side wall being bent inwardly substantially at right angles to define an attaching ange the inner side wall having its front edge portion bent inwardly substantially at right angles to define an attaching flange narrower than the aforesaid ange and disposed in abutment with the rear surface of the aforesaid flange on the outside of the said hollow walls of said cabinet and secured thereto, and a door for closing the open front of the cabinet having hinges'therefor mounted on said secured together attaching flanges.

5. A hollow walled sheet metal cabinet structure, comprising top and bottom walls and a rear wall, and opposed hollow side walls each comprising inner and outer substantially vertical sheet metal walls in spaced substantially parallel relation, the front edge portion oI' at least one outer side wall being bent inwardly substantially at right angles to define an attaching flange the inner side wall having its front edge portion bent inwardly substantially at right angles to dene an attaching ange narrower than the aforesaid ange and disposed in abutment with the rear surface of the aforesaid iiange on the outside of thesaid hollow walls of said cabinet and secured thereto, and a. door for closing the open front of theY cabinet having hinges therefor mounted on saidV secured together attaching flanges, said door having the back surface thereof substantially ush with the other surface of said secured together attaching flanges, the latter having portions thereof bent inwardly into substantially parallel offset relationtothe remainder,r thereof; to proyide` de,-l

pressed seats for mountingv the attaching por-4 tions of the hinges thereon.;

6. A hollow walled sheet metal cabinet struc-y ture, comprising top and bottom walls and a rear wall, and opposed hollow side walls each compris-- ing inner and outer substantially. vertical sheet.f

metal walls in spaced substantially parallel rela-- tion, the front edge portion of at leastoneouter side wall being bent inwardly substantially at. right angles to definean attaching flange.. the

inner side wall having its front edge portion bent inwardly substantially at right angles to define; an attaching flange narrower than the aforesaid flange and disposed in abutment withA the rear surface of the aforesaid flange on theoutside of the said hollow walls of said cabinet and-secured thereto, and a door for closing the open frontof. said cabinet hingedly mounted at. one vertical edge portionV thereof on the other side. wall of said cabinet, said door having on its other vertical edge portion detent means for engagement behind,

the secured together attaching flanges on the first mentioned side wall.

7. A welded sheet metal cabinet structure-comprising, in combination, an inner welded sheet metal shell and an enclosing outer sheet metal shell in spaced relation to the inner shell and welded thereto, the inner shell comprising bottorn, side, top, and back walls having edge portions which are anged outwardly relative to the shell, the anges of the back and top walls beingV Welded in abutment with the inner surfaces of the side walls in inwardly spaced relation to the `011twardly directed flanges of said side walls, the bottom wall being welded to the lower portions of the side and back walls, and the outer shell comprising a top wall welded to the flanges on the upper ends of said rst named side walls and having anges on the edges thereof, one of which is welded to the edge of the first top wall,'a back wall having flanges on the lateral edges thereof welded to the inner side of the flanges onthe rear edges of said first named side walls, and

.rear edges of the second named top wall'and aforesaid bottom wall, respectively, and side walls having abutment with the flanges on the lateral edges of the second named top wall and having anges on the rear edges welded to the outer sides of the flanges on the rear edges of the first side walls, the front edges of said second named side walls being secured to the front edges of the flrst named side walls.

8. A hollow walled sheet metal cabinet structure, comprising top and bottom walls and a rear wall, and opposed hollow side walls each comprising inner and outer substantially vertical sheet metal walls in spaced substantially parallel relation, the fro-nt edge portion of at least one outer side wall being bent inwardly substantially at right angles to define an attaching flange, the inner side wall having its front edge portionrbent inwardly substantially at right anglesto define an attaching flangevnarrower than the aforesaid flange and disposed in abutment with the rear. surface of the aforesaidange on the outside, of the said hollow walls of said cabinet and secured thereto, and a door for closing the open front of the cabinet hingedly mounted .at one vertical edge Aportion thereof on hinges mounted on said secured together attached flanges, said door havingthe back surface thereof substantially flushV with the outer surface of said secured together .attaching flanges, the latter having portions thereof'. bent inwardlyinto substantially parallel oisetrelation to the remainder thereof to provide depressed seats for mounting the attaching portions of the hinges thereon, said door having on its other vertical edge portion detent means for engagement behind the secured together attaching flanges on the other side wall of said cabinet.

9. A welded sheet metal cabinet structure comprising, in combination, an inner Welded sheet metal shell and an enclosing outer sheet metal shell in spaced relation to the inner shell and Welded thereto, the inner shell comprising side, top, and back walls having edge portions which are flanged outwardly relative to the shell, the flanges of the back and top walls being welded in abutment with the inner surfaces of the side walls in inwardly spaced relation to the outwardly directed flanges of said side walls, and the outer shell comprising a top wall Welded to the flanges on the upper ends of said inner side walls and having flanges on the edges thereof, one of which is welded to the edge of the rst top wall, a back wall having flanges on the lateral edges thereof welded to the inner side of the flanges on the rear edges of said inner side walls,

. and having its upper end welded to the rear edge of said outer top wall, and side walls having abutment with the flanges on the lateral edges of said outer top wall and having flanges on the rear edges welded to the outer sides of the hanges kon the rear edges of said inner side walls, the

front edges of said outer side walls being secured to the front edges of said inner side walls.

10. A welded sheet metal cabinet structure comprising, in combination, an inner welded sheet metal shell and an enclosing outer sheet metal shell in spaced relation to the inner shell and welded thereto, the inner shell comprising bottom, side, and back walls having edge portions which are flanged outwardly relative to the shell,

the flanges of the 'back wall being welded in abutment with the inner surfaces of the side walls in inwardly spaced relation to the outwardly directed flanges of said side walls, the bottom wall being welded to the lower portions of the side and back walls, and the outer shell comprising a back wall having flanges on the lateral edges thereof welded to the inner side of the ilanges on the rear edges of said inner side walls, and having its lower end welded to the rear edge of the aforesaid bottom wall, and side walls having flanges on the rear edges Welded to the outer sides of the flanges on the rear edges of said inner side walls, the front edges of said outer side walls being secured to the front edges of said inner side walls.

11. A welded sheet metal cabinet structure comprising, in combination, an inner welded sheet metal shell and an enclosing outer sheet metal shell in spaced relation to the inner shell and welded thereto, the inner shell comprising side and back walls having edge portions which are flanged outwardly relativeto the shell, the flanges of the hack wall being welded in abutment with the inner surfaces of the side Walls in inwardly spaced relation to the outwardly directed flanges of said side Walls, and the outer shell comprising a back wall having flanges on the lateral edges thereof welded to the inner side of the flanges on the rear edges of said inner side walls, and side wal-s having flanges on the rear edges welded to the outer sides of the flanges on the rea-r edges of said inner side walls, the front edges of said outer side walls being secured to the front edges of said inner side walls.

STANLEY H. HOBSON. HAROLD H. RING. 

